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Auto insurance more costly in GTA cities

Where you live has a big impact on coverage rates

Tesla has just opened the Barrie Supercharger to provide recharging service to Tesla owners who may have been reluctant to take their vehicles into cottage and ski country. (Paul Sakuma / ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO)

Potential buyers touring the Canadian International Auto Show should keep in mind that the cost of insuring a new vehicle is an important part of the research process. And it’s not just the make and model that drives the price; where you live is also a factor in how much it costs to insure a vehicle.

A new study from car insurance comparison website Kanetix reveals that all but one of the top 10 most expensive Ontario cities in which to insure a car are in the GTA. The study was based on a single 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

The result? The median Ontario cost to insure a vehicle for that driver is $1,538 per year.

Each city in the top ten is above that figure. Brampton has the dubious distinction of being at the top of the list, 44 per cent ahead of the Ontario average. Toronto is number four on the list, at 27 per cent above average. Ajax is at number ten, 11 per cent higher than average.

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Here’s the above-average cities identified by Kanetix:

Brampton: 44% ($2,393)

Woodbridge: 41% ($2,342)

Vaughan: 41% ($2,342)

Toronto: 27% ($2,017

Mississauga: 26% ($1,998)

Hamilton: 26% ($1,987)

Thornhill 20% ($1,884)

Markham 17% ($1,829)

Richmond Hill 13% ($1,755)

Ajax 11 % ($1,718)

The least expensive cities to insure a car are generally in southeastern Ontario, with an average annual rate of $1,014 per year. Cobourg, Napanee, Belleville and Kingston are all among the most affordable areas to insure a vehicle.

Veedol sets up shop

Long-time motorists and motorsport history buffs should recognize the name Veedol. Originally founded in Pennsylvania in 1913, Veedol was the oil of choice for the Ford Model T when it rolled off the production line.

The brand was of specific note in Canadian motorsport in the ‘60s, as Veedol was the sponsor of a variety of high-profile racing cars, including the Canadian-built Sadler and Chinook Can-Am cars, nicknamed “Miss Veedol” and driven by Nat Adams.

Company ownership has changed several times over the years. The most recent owner is Tide Water Oil Co. India Ltd., which is dedicated to re-launching the brand globally.

North and South American development of Veedol will by managed by Automobile Solutions Americas in Mississauga. The Canadian office will handle sales and will be blending lubricants locally.

Tesla Supercharger in Barrie

The primary challenge for owners of electric vehicles is the reality that re-charging the batteries isn’t as simple as pulling up to any corner gas station and topping up the tank. Sure, EV charging stations are popping up around the province, but they often do not provide the level of juice required by a specific make or model car at the fastest rate.

The founder of the Southern Ontario Tesla Owners Club, John Dixon, tells me that Tesla has a plan to ensure that owners of its vehicles can do the Toronto to Montreal route without experiencing dreaded range anxiety. In theory, a Tesla owner can already make the trip between the two cities, with short stops at Tesla Superchargers in Kingston, Cornwall and at both ends of the trip. Cold weather can take its toll on the distance that can be covered on a single charge, however, so Tesla owners are hoping for another station around Cobourg soon.

A Supercharger is a station that can accommodate eight vehicles at a time and supply a full charge in about 45 minutes, free for Tesla owners. A partial charge takes about the same time as it takes for a bathroom break and a sandwich.

Many Toronto-area Tesla owners also have places in cottage or ski country, so Tesla has just opened a Supercharger at Park Place in Barrie. Last Saturday, more than 20 club members took part in their first group drive event, with an unofficial grand opening of the Barrie Supercharger as their destination. Dixon says the facility will make a big difference for owners who might have left their Tesla at home when visiting the cottage in the past.

Gary Grant is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. For more automotive stories, go to thestar.com/autos .

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